A Systematic Course in Pranayama and Meditation with David Burgess

A Systematic Course in Pranayama and Meditation with David Burgess

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UPDATE: David’s systematic pranayama and meditation course has been so popular that it has now SOLD OUT!!! If you’re still keen to do it, please put your name down on our waiting list by giving us a call on 02 9977 4725 or send us an email on hello@manlyyoga.com as we may run another stream as there are a lot of keen people calling every day, or you can enrol in the excellent online version of this course through the IYTA at www.iyta.com.au/yoga-teacher-train…/meditation-and-pranayama

Would you like to develop your pranayama (breathing) and meditation practice in a systematic way? Perhaps you are a yoga teacher wanting to broaden and deepen your repertoire of teaching skills? Or maybe you are a keen student of yoga seeking to develop your personal practice under the guidance of a master teacher?

This 11-month course is the gold standard of pranayama and meditation, developed by David Burgess, one of Australia’s foremost teachers of these life-changing skills. The course starts at the very beginning with the simpler more foundational practices and over the course of three terms, the practices are built up to an intermediate or advanced level through attendance at 3 workshops, plus personal home practice and detailed practice journal feedback (optional).

In the first term the emphasis is on breath control and breath expansion and sustained steadiness in meditation.

In the second term the emphasis will be on the classical balancing and tranquilising breathing practices and a number of meditation techniques: Mantra (various forms of Japa), Drishti (gazing) – Trataka and Akasha, and Dharana (fixed attention).

In the final term come the more advanced vitalising pranayamas such as Bhastrika and Kapalbhati and the more challenging meditation techniques of Ajapa Japa and Antar Mauna.

Experienced students at Manly Yoga will be familiar with many of these practices, but few may have gone to the higher end of these practices in a systematic and sustained way. To do so with the guidance of a highly experienced teacher is a rare and valuable opportunity.

Course structure:

The course is broken into 3 terms. Each term commences with a 4-hour workshop at Manly Yoga. Each term is a pre-requisite for the following term. During each term there is a specific schedule of pranayama and meditation home practices and a sequential guide of detailed instructions for each practice and some set readings on the underpinning theory.

The teacher: It is best to learn pranayama and meditation from someone who genuinely practices them and who has done so for a long time. David Burgess has been practising and teaching various forms of yoga, and particularly pranayama and meditation for over 40 years and is considered to be a master teacher by those in his field. He teaches pranayama and meditation on the respected IYTA Teacher Training course and is a life member of the IYTA.

Workshop dates at Manly Yoga:

1st session (Term 1): Saturday 9 February 2019, 11.30 am – 4 pm

2nd session (Term 2): Saturday 25 May 2019, 11.30 am – 4 pm

3rd session (Term 3): Saturday 24 August 2019, 11.30 am – 4 pm

Pathway options – This course can be undertaken in one of two ways:

Pathway 1: Simply attend the three workshops over 2019 with no other requirements.

Cost: $335 Full Price / $295 Early Bird (paid by 2 Feb) / $235 Concession (Available for purchase at reception only upon proof of Govt. issued Pension or Health Card)

Pathway 2: Attendance at the three workshops; completion of home study; and regular journaling of your practise, with four detailed feedback responses from David on your journal over the year.

(Please note: The workshops are not currently available as single drop-ins. They will only be made available to appropriate candidates as single sessions if some places are still available the week before the course commences, for $120 per session)

Duration – three terms:

Term 1 – 14 weeks Term 2 – 15 weeks Term 3 – 16 weeks

INFORMATION FOR PATHWAY 2 OPTION:

If you elect to take the course more formally (Pathway 2) you will be required to submit your journal of practice via email for feedback from David. A major benefit of doing this is that you will be given thorough constructive feedback on your technique and progress.

Your commitment:

This course is practice-based and requires you to be prepared to practise the scheduled practices in your own time, for a minimum of four sessions a week for a minimum of around 20 – 30 minutes each session.

Beyond this, there is regular specified reading and for those submitting a journal (Pathway 2) as well as time allocated to writing in your journal. You will submit the journal to David four times over the year via email by the due dates set out below. For a motivated practitioner this should be manageable.

Textbooks:

You will need to acquire two textbooks (both are often available for purchase at Manly Yoga reception):

1. Prana and Pranayama by Swami Niranjananda 2. Meditations from the Tantras by Swami Satyananda

For both Pathway 1 & 2, 12 CPD points will be earned for the three face to face sessions (according to Yoga Australia guidelines – 1 point per hour of “contact activity core to yoga teaching”)

If you take Pathway 2, you gain 12 points PLUS all of your personal practice hours are worth one point per two hours (according to the Yoga Australia Guidelines for “non-contact activities core to yoga teaching”), so based on your logged journal hours, your certificate of completion will reflect those personal practice hours. For example, if over the year you practiced for two hours a week over 45 weeks, you would earn 45 extra CPD points.

If you have further queries about this fantastic course, please contact Manly Yoga via phone on 02 9977 4725 or email hello@manlyyoga.com and we’ll be happy to help!

More Details:

Here’s what David’s students say about his teaching….

“David is an awesome teacher – he is exceptionally knowledgeable, serious, down-to-earth, funny and well… REAL. I’m so grateful! With his encouragement, I’ve learned to be content with where I’m at, while also holding on to my aspirations, being patient, diligent and persistent – all so important for learning meditation and pranayama.” Mandy Trueman

“David’s extensive experience and embodied wisdom impress me every time. He is incredibly profound, commanding, funny and realistic all at once – a true master. If you want to deepen your understanding of yoga on all levels, he is your man.” Alana Smith

“David has a piercing authenticity about him. He inspires passion and a disciplined practice that has the ability to transform your life.” Christine Neufeld

“David is a wonderful teacher. His down-to-earth attitude, compassion and sense of humour makes his teachings accessible, and his vast depth of knowledge on everything from the practices and their effects, to the subtle aspects of the monkey mind, means I always feel I am in safe hands.” Tessa Hoffman

David Burgess has been practising and teaching various forms of yoga, and particularly pranayama and meditation for over 40 years and is considered to be a master teacher by those in his field. He teaches pranayama and meditation on the respected IYTA Teacher Training course and is a life member of the IYTA.